Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Barker an agricultural labourer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1849 in Badingham, Suffolk and baptised on the 31st March 1850 in St. John the Baptist Church, Badingham and his wife Sarah Barker (nee Nichols, married on the 11th February 1873 in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Framlingham, Suffolk), born in the 2nd quarter of 1852 in Badingham and baptised on the 23rd May 1852 in St. John the Baptist Church, Badingham. Edward John was born in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in Framlingham, his siblings were Eliza, a schoolgirl, born in the 3rd quarter of 1873, Betsy Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born in the 1st quarter of 1875, Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the 1st quarter of 1877 and Ernest, born in the 4th quarter of 1879, all his siblings were born in Framlingham, in April 1881 the family home was at Fairfield Road, Framlingham, Plomesgate. In April 1891 Edward was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home in Fairfield Road, Framlingham, together with his widowed mother, a laundress and his siblings Eliza, a dressmaker, Ellen, a general servant, Ernest, a schoolboy, Samuel Edgar, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1882 and Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the 1st quarter of 1883, the latter two siblings were both born in Framlingham. In March 1901 Edward was absent from the family home at Haynings Corner, Framlingham, residing there was his widowed mother, a laundress and his siblings, Ernest, a domestic groom and Edith, a general domestic servant. In April 1911 Edward was employed as a domestic butler and was residing in the family home at Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire together with his wife Mary Jane Barker (nee Howitt, married on the 27th February 1906 in St. Peter’s Church, Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire), born on the 17th December1882 in Buckminster, Leicestershire, and their children, Colin Edward, born on the 23rd July 1907 in Loddington, Leicestershire and Jean Ivy, born on the 29th December 1910 in Burrough on the Hill.
Edward’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, but from the few existing documents that are available in the public domain, it can be confirmed that he enlisted as a Driver into the Royal Field Artillery and was allotted the service number 165189. It is unknown when Edward first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. During his service he gained promotion to the rank of Corporal and was shown to have been serving with the Royal Field Artillery Headquarters in France at the time that he was granted leave to the UK. It was during this period of leave that Edward took ill, and died on the 26th November 1918 from influenza and broncho pneumonia. He was buried in Burrough on the Hill Churchyard. Edward was awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Edward’s widow Mary was awarded a weekly Army Pension of forty four shillings and two pence for herself and two children to commence on the 10th November 1919.